top of page

Couples Support based in Polyvagal Attachment Theory

Couples therapy takes time to integrate and shouldn't overwhelm either individual during the process. I believe in honoring the protectors that are often the source of couples complaints because they are attempting to defend against chaos and distress. I don't believe everyone is born with a secure attachment system early in life, which makes relationships difficult to maintain, even when one has met the right partner. Or sometimes one partner has more secure attachment, but the attachment is thwarted in the other partner - no-one's fault but still distress is present and support is important. People are very capable of developing more secure attachment given the right inputs, time, acceptance and support. My approach integrates a handful of distinctive philosophies and strategies that, in harmony, make deeper more secure attachment possible. From a newly secure base of attachment, individuals and couples can more easily expand, enjoy, connect, negotiate, navigate and move into their fuller potential. If your curious about how I've arrived at my approach, I encourage you to check out the building blocks offered in these many healing modalities:

Steven Porges' Polyvagal Theory and the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), which offers a non-invasive polyvagal acoustic therapy for restoring attachment systems in people who have thwarted attachment capabilities (often present due to early developmental trauma and resulting Complex PTSD, sensory processing challenges, or acute trauma.

Richard Schwartz's Internal Family Systems (IFS) Model

Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy for Couples (EFT)

Kathy Cain & Steve Terrell's work for healing developmental (attachment) trauma

John Bradshaw's work on reclaiming and healing your Inner Child 

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Deidre Fay's program for Becoming Safely Embodied

The Gottman Method and Imago Relationship Therapy

bottom of page